The show: “Christmas in Connecticut” at Goodspeed Opera House

What makes it special?: It’s a new musical based on the 1945 film starring Barbara Stanwyck.

Can’t quite recall the film: That’s OK. No one does. At least not in the specifics. It’s not a particularly good film though it has its moments, thanks mainly to a great roster of character actors like Reginald Owen, Sydney Greenstreet, Dick Elliott, and the always amusing S.Z. Sakall.

No, that’s not it: Maybe it was the 1992 TV movie starring Dyan Cannon, Kris Kristofferson, Richard Roundtree and Tony Curtis (directed by Arnold Schwarzenegger!)

Maybe. What’s this one about?: It follows the original outrageous premise with some changes, a few for the better and a few that are not. Midwest gal Liz arrives in Manhattan wanting to be an important writer but the only job she can land is that of a homemaker columnist. But she doesn't know anything about being a wife, mother, cook and housekeeper — though coming from the Midwest it’s rather hard to believe she’s a complete homemaker innocent. (It would have made more sense to make her an East Coast dame of privilege.)

That makes more sense: Glad you agree. So when her publisher insists that she entertain a returning soldier who’s a fan of her column at her completely-made-up Connecticut homestead, she panics. Her editor (who is wise to her ruse and is supportive) suggests his brother’s farmhouse in the Nutmeg state. The macho bro agrees but isn’t happy about the fraud. To help with the cooking duties, she enlists a pal who’s a chef help her in this scheme.

Sounds a bit complicated: Not to mention a bit of a stretch on so many levels. There’s a nugget of a good premise here but the authors are stuck between the original script and their own inventions, including the arrival of a fact-checker from the magazine who falls for the soldier and a friendly local man offering a gay romantic subplot. But the show is filled with cliches, tropes and stereotypes. (Really, another new-gal-arriving-in-the-big-city opening? I wanted to flee at that very moment.)

The fact checker playing detective gives the second act opener some verve (though that story line is quickly dropped). The dalliances-in-the-dark stretch is mildly amusing. The best scene is one with Liz trying to milk a cow — and more scenes where she is trying to be the perfect homemaker would have given the show some sparks. Most of the music is unexceptional and some of the lyrics land with a thud.

But there aren just too many fixes to offer much encouragement . Even if it is period, the happy homemaker premise is deeply dated . Giving the soldier a guilty secret only brings to mind a moral issue that doesn't belong in screwball-land.

Production values: Dreary brown color palette doesn’t lift the design elements..

Who will like it?: Fans of the film, wherever they are.

Who wont?: Those looking for lighthearted holiday charm.

For the kids?: Nothing offensive here except the boredom factor.

Thoughts in leaving the parking lot: Perhaps the initial appeal in producing the show here is that it has both “Christmas” and “Connecticut” in the title. But it takes more than that to make a decent musical, much less a perennial. There is no attempt to make anything remotely Connecticut about the show. (To be fair, neither did the film which was shot in a Hollywood studio.) I did like the poster, which may be a first for me for a Goodspeed show,.